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Monday, January 26, 2015

Bishop Cortez, Successor of Archbishop Tirona in Prelature of Infanta

BALER,
Aurora-Manila Auxiliary Bishop Bernardino Cortez, D.D. was installed last
Friday, January 23, 2015 as 4th Bishop of the Prelature of Infanta in
Saint Mark's Cathedral, Infanta, Quezon Province in a two hour solemn
liturgical rites.

The
diocese of Infanta was left vacant since 2012 after Archbishop Rolando Tria
Tirona was installed as Archbishop of Nueva Caceres wherein Cortez succeeded
the post.

The
prelature territories are the northern portions of the provinces of Quezon and
the whole of Aurora.

Manila
Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle graced the ceremony and has called to
the need for prayerfulness and a profound respect for the conditions and
sensibilities of human persons in pastoral life as the Prelature will continue
to respond to numerous pastoral challenges, especially those related to
authentic human development, the situation of indigenous peoples, and
stewardship of creation.

“Sana
yung mga buwaya ay maging butiki as in the picture of Saint Mary,” Tagle quoted
during the rite referring to politicians.

Back
to Cortez, he is now 65 years old and a former priest of the Diocese of San
Pablo in Laguna where he was ordained in June 1974.

Cortez
is also known in criticizing politicians who take advantage of the Filipino
electorate, saying that politicians usually please voters during the election
season. He said that politicians show care and concern, but after the period,
everything goes back to normal and that they are doing things in exchange of
something that could benefit them, not because of the love they have for others.
In the heat of the 2013 midterm elections, he took a swipe at politicians who
made a show of serving the people, but for their vested interests.

Cortez,
Chairman of the Catholic Media Network has been known to serve his ministry
with a passion, especially the pastoral challenges.

Saint
John Paul II appointed Cortez as Auxiliary Bishop of Manila on May 2004 and
served for 10 years, and now as 4th Bishop of Infanta, he will
administer an ecclesiastical jurisdiction with almost half-a-million
population, 87 percent of which are Catholics from 20 parishes.

It
could be remembered that Pope Francis has appointed Cortez as the new Bishop of
Infanta in Quezon province. The appointment was announced at 12 noon in Rome
(7pm, Manila time) last October 27, 2014. (Jason de Asis)